Process of treating petroleum oils



May 19, 1931. G. EGLoFF ET AL PROCESS OF TREATING PETROLEUI OILS Original Filed March 4, 1922 Patented May. 19, 1931 i UNITED STATES PATENT4 OFFICE GUSTAV EGLOFF ANI) JACQUE C. MORRELL, AOIF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO UNIVERSAL OIL PRODUCTS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA PROCESS OF TREATING PETROLEUM OILS Application led March 4, 1922, Serial No. 541,055. Renewed May 17, 1927.

This invention relates to improvements in a process and apparatus for treating petroleum oils and refers more particularly to a process for treating such oils as those from the Mexican and Texas field which have a high sulphur content. v

The single figure is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawing, at 1 is shown a furnace in which is mounted heating coils 2. Connected with the discharge end of the coil is a vaporizing chamber 3 `which connects through a vapor line 4 With the dephlegmator 5. Condenser coil 6 mounted in the condenser box 7 is connect-ed to the ltop of the dephlegl mator by means of a pipe 8, the condenser coil 6 in turn being connected to a receiving tank 9, having liquid draw-off valve 10 and pressure relief valve 11, liquid level gauge 12 and pressure gauge 13.

The oil to be treated is introduced from any convenient source through the line 14 controlled by a valve 15 and is charged by means of the pump 16 through the line 17 to the dephlegmator 5 where 'it is simultaneously preheated and used as a dephlegmating medium, flowing in an opposed direction to the vapors which rise through the dephlegmator. The oil and condensate collected in the bottom of the dephlegmator is drawn od through pipe 18 controlled by a valve 19 and is charged to the heating coils 2 which are heated by any suitable means such as gas burners 20. The oil after being raised to a conversion temperature under substantial pressure in the heating tubes, is passed through the transfer line 21 controlled b a valve 22 to the vaporizing chamber 3. Hiere the oil while being maintained in a substantial body is permitted to vaporize and during this vaporization there is introduced to the chamber through the line 23, sulphurdioxide from the tank or container 24:. The iniiow of sulphur dioxide to the chamber 3 is regulated by means of the valve 25. With the sulphur-dioxide there is introduced a jet of steam through the pipe 26 controlled by a valve 27 producing considerable turbulency with the introduction of the mixed sulphur- 50 dioxide and steam combination at a position in the vaporizing chamber near to the delivery point of the transfer line 21. Thus, as the oil is introduced to the vaporizing chamber it will be thoroughly mixed With the steam and sulphur dioxide combination introduced through the line 23. The vapor constituents relieved from the oil in the reacting zone 3 pass off through the vapor line 4 controlled by a valve 28 to the dephlegmator and thence through the line 8 controlled by a valve 29 to the condenser and are collected in the receiver as liquid distillate. The level in the reacting chamber is controlled by means of the liquid draw-oft valve 30 through which the heavy residual substancesare Withdrawn from this zone.

The novelty of the process consists in the passing of sulphur-dioxide into the still or into the oil undergoing conversion inthe presence of steam or moisture resulting in a reaction between the sulphur-dioxide and the hydrogen sulphide relieved from the oil during the cracking reaction. This reaction will produce free sulphur and moisture which at temperatures maintained in the reacting zone would be in the vapor phase. The reaction between the sulphur-dioxide and hydrogensulphide mitigates the hydrogen-sulphide from forming iron sulphide when coming in contact -With the steel or iron of the apparatus, this later reaction having a very deteriorating effect.

In the treatment of Mexican or Texas oils having a high sulphur content, Where the oils are being subjected to a cracking reaction for producing lighter hydrocarbons, there is a substantial formation of objectionable sulphide combinations and it is found advantageous to produce the conditions in-the reacting zone which tend to retard and prevent these objectionable chemical reactions. By introducing a sulphur-dioxide and steam combination at suflicient pressure to cause the mixture to mix thoroughly with the oil in the vaporizing or reacting chamber, the production of these objectionable chemical formations which tend to react with the steel and iron in the apparatus has been to a great extent obviated.

Operating conditions during the treatment of the oil will va according to the character of the oil treate but pressures from 50 to 250 pounds are usual with correspondin temperatures necessary to produce desire reaction. A ve good quality distillate of avities ranging from 49 to 53 B. are progiruced in the receiving tank 9.

We claim as our invention:

1. A process for converting hydrocarbon oils, consisting in subjecting the oil to a cracking temperature, in transferring the heated oil to a reaction zone, in injecting into the oil in said reaction zone a mixture of sulphur dioxide and steam, in condensing the vapors evolved from the oil and in maintaining a regulated pressure upon the oil during treatment.

2. A process for converting heavy hydrocarbon oils into lower hydrocarbons, consisting in heating the oil to a craclng temperature, in passing the heated oil to an enlarged zone wherein substantial vaporization occurs, in introducing into the vapors in said enlarged zone a. mixture of sulphur-dioxide and steam, in subjecting the evolved vapors issuing from said enlarged zone to condensation and in maintaining a super-atmospheric vapor pressure onthe oil undergoing treatment.

3. A process for converting heavy hydrocarbon oils into lower hydrocarbons, consisting in heating the oil to a cracking temerature, in passing the heated oil to an enarged zone wherein substantial vaporization occurs, in introducing into the vapors in said enlarged zone sulphur-dioxide in the presence of moisture, in subjecting the evolved vapors issuing from said enlarged zone to condensation and in maintaining a super-atmospheric vapor pressure on the oil undergoing treatment.

GUSTAV' EGLOFF. JACQUE C. MORRELL. 

